Golf mat apparatus

ABSTRACT

A golf mat ( 20 ) specially designed for golf practice. Said mat ( 20 ) has a foam bottom ( 24 ) that has above an artificial turf ( 22 ) which has a recessed shape ( 28 ) that uses a golf tee connector Docket #11/334894—( 30 ) to connect a golf tee Docket #11/199540—( 26 ) that lies in the recessed shape placing it out of the path of a golf club, avoiding in the snagging of the said golf tee Docket #11/199540—( 26 ) and creating a longer lasting mat and golf tee combination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to golf mats and more particularly to a golf matthat will house a golf tee Docket #11/199540 in the mat and connect by agolf tee connector Docket #11/334894 or connect through an insert thatwill hold the tee in the mat.

2. Prior Art

Throughout golf practice there have been a growing number of golf mats.They all have their own benefits. Some have training lines to followlike U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,494 to Dionne (1997). Some swivel like U.S.Pat. No. 5,156,398 to Kibamoto (1992). There are numerous ideas thatwork in their specific areas.

Unfortunately until now almost all these mats are being used with theconventional tee that comes up from under the mat. This makes the matvulnerable because the golf club sometimes strikes the hole were the teecomes up through the mat and tears around the hole. Repeatedly strikingthe tee also creates a huge resistance to the golf club therefore whenthe club strikes the tee it catches the tee and starts to open and tearthe hole. What ends up happening is the mat tears around the hole longbefore the top of the mat is worn out.

There was a patent that helped in this area U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,541 toMartino (1990). For the most part adding a stronger section around theround hole helped but because of the enormous impact in that area werethe tee comes up from the bottom of the mat. Even though this patent byMartino helped in adding a longer playing time before the mat wouldtear, it still does not totally solve the problem of the mat tearingaround the hole and the stronger section, were the tee comes up from thebottom of the mat.

3. Objects and Advantages

The present invention is to provide a recess to allow a golf tee Docket#11/199540 to set inside the recess to remove the tee from the path ofthe golf club and allow the golf tee Docket #11/199540 to connect to themat with a golf tee connector Docket #11/334894 these two inventionscome together with the mat and because of the mats new innovation withthe recessed shape it will house the golf tee Docket #11/199540 out ofharms way by lowering it into the mat. Putting the golf tee Docket#11/199540 under the top of the mat making it harder to hit the base tosnag it or pull it with the club. This feature will keep the base of theTee flush with the top of the Mat and insure the tees safety from beingstruck on the base by a golf club.

Another object and advantage is the golf tee Doc #11/199540. This teeallows a golf tee connector to connect to it and the mat making it oneapparatus. The golf tee allows for different heights to accommodatemultiple players. This tee has a flexible base that has no resistancebecause it flexes in the direction it is struck giving the player asmoother swing. This tee also comes back into place ready to be usedrepeatedly this action allows the tee to last longer than any tee thatcomes up from the bottom of the mat. This prevents having toconsistently replace the tee saving time and money. The shape of thistee has a lot of benefits to help in the performance of this invention,the indentions on the bottom of the tee allow the tee to break in thecorrect spots when struck by a golf club allowing a smoother swing withno interruptions from the base of the tee coming up and pushing on theclub as it passes through the tee. The shape of the tee allows it tomaintain its stationary position when struck and still allows a personto hit the tee at an angle so that the tee can flex side to sidevigorously when struck at an improper angle.

Another object and advantage is the golf tee connector. This connectorallows this invention to come together with the mat and the tee makingthis invention complete. This golf tee connector allows the tee toconnect to the mat without rotation and also keeps the tee from rotatingas well. The golf tee connector adjusts to many different heights. Thisgolf tee connector easily and quickly connects to the mat and tee withno complex parts, and also interlocks with itself to insure no rotation.

A current object and advantage is the step tee which allows a person toslip this tee through the insert in the mat. This is an easy slip indesign that is quick and simple to connect to the mat and replace whenneeded. This tee does not need a golf tee connector to connect it to themat. This tee also will save time and money from the costly replacementof tees that come up from the bottom of the mat. This tee also has thesame physical features on the top most part of the tee that the othergolf tee Doc #11/199540 has and will allow a golfer to gain the sameease and smooth swing path. Last, this tee has an extra vertical stepdown and a lower continuation of the base to help in holding the tee tothe mat when connected and slipped through the insert.

A further object and advantage is the insert that pushes into the matand allows the tee to continue through the mat. This insert stiffens upthe section around the mat where the tee goes through to help preventthe mat from ripping apart. The insert holds the tee in the correctplace and keeps it from rotating and coming out of the mat when struckby a golf club.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention a golf mat apparatus comprisesa mat that has a recessed shape in the top to house a golf tee Docket#11/199540 that connects with a golf tee connector Docket #11/334894 ora golf tee that connects through an insert that holds the golf tee so itcan be struck by a golf club and will allow it to come back into placeand to place it out of the direct path of a golf club to obtain a freeflowing swing with no catching the tee for improved golf practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a mat with a foam bottom and anartificial turf on top with the recessed shape to house a golf teeDocket #11/199540 that connects to the mat with a golf tee connectorDocket #11/334894.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a mat that has a bottom basewith longer artificial turf that has a recessed shape to house a golftee Docket #11/199540 that connects to the mat with a golf tee connectorDocket #11/334894.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a mat with a recessed shape to house agolf tee Docket #11/199540 in it for both left and right hand players.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the top of the connector thatattaches to the bottom of the connector.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the bottom connector that attaches tothe top connector.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the golf tee connector Docket#11/334894 that will hold the tee and allow both to connect to the mat.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the golf tee Docket #11/199540.

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of the golf tee Docket #11/199540.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the golf tee Docket #11/199540.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mat that has a bottombase with artificial turf that has a recessed shape to house a golf teeDocket #11/199540 that connects to the mat with a golf tee connectorDocket #11/334894.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of a mat with a recessed shape to house agolf tee Docket #11/199540 in it for right hand players.

FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of a mat with a recessed shape to house agolf tee Docket #11/199540 in it for left hand players.

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a mat with a foam bottom andan artificial turf on top with the recessed shape to house a golf teethat slips through the insert in the mat.

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the step golf tee that slips throughthe insert in the mat.

FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of the step golf tee that slips throughthe insert in the mat.

FIG. 16 illustrates a bottom view of the step golf tee that slipsthrough the insert in the mat.

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of the step golf tee that slipsthrough the insert in the mat.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the insert that is in the mat.

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of the insert that is in the mat.

FIG. 20 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mat with an insert andthe step golf tee.

FIG. 21 illustrates a top view of a mat with a recessed shape to house astep golf tee and the insert.

DRAWING—REFERENCE NUMERALS

20 mat 22 artificial turf 24 foam bottom 26 golf tee Docket # 11/19954028 recessed shape 30 golf tee connector Docket # 11/334894 32 bottombase 34 longer artificial turf 36 outer shapes 38 x-shape 40 inner shape42 spikes 44 bolt 46 nut 48 cylinder stem 50 x-shape cut out 52 twoindentions 54 right handed recessed shape 56 left handed recessed shape58 insert 60 short side 62 rectangular slot 64 inner angle 66 step golftee 68 vertical side 70 lower base 72 outer angle 74 top base 76 matindention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the golf mat apparatus of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my mat 20that has a foam bottom 24 attached above is a artificial turf 22 whichhouses a recessed shape 28 which houses the golf tee Docket#11/199540—26 and as shown the recessed shape 28 in this figure allows agolf tee Docket #11/199540—26 to be recessed left or right handed andattaches with a golf tee connector Docket #11/334894—30.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mat 20 that has a bottom base 32that holds a longer artificial turf 34 which has a recessed shape 28which will house a golf tee Docket #11/199540—26 and allow it to berecessed for left or right handed players while a golf tee connectorDocket #11/334894—30 attaches the golf tee Docket #11/199540—26 to themat.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of my mat 20 with a recessed shape 28 thatwill be in the artificial turf 22.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the top of the golf tee connectorDocket #11/334894—30 which shows one of the outer shapes 36 that enablethe golf tee connector Docket #11/334894—30 to penetrate the bottom ofthe connector and keep it from rotating and the X-shape 38 holds thegolf tee that keeps the tee from rotating.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the bottom of the golf tee connectorDocket #11/334894—30 which shows one of the inner shapes 40 that enablesthe top of the connector to penetrate and keep it from rotating and thespikes 42 that keep the base of this connector from rotating whenconnected under the mat, also showing the nut 46 on the bottom of theconnector.

FIG. 6 illustrates a exploded view of the golf tee connector Docket#11/334894—30 with both the outer shape 36 and the inner shape 40 thatpenetrates the bottom. Showing the bolt 44 that continues through boththe top and bottom of the golf tee connector Docket #11/334894—30 andwill tighten up with the nut that is on the bottom to hold both piecestight.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the golf tee Docket #11/199540—26 andthe cylinder stem 48 and the X-shape cutout 50 that the golf teeconnector fits in to hold the tee in place and keep it from rotating.

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of the golf tee Docket #11/199540—26that has two indentions 52 that allow the golf tee Docket #11/199540—26to flex in the correct spots to allow for a smoother swing that isuninterrupted by the base hitting the bottom of the golf club as itpasses through the tee.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the golf tee Docket#11/199540—26 this shows the cylinder stem 48 that holds the golf ball.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the mat 20 that has a foambottom 24 and an artificial turf 22 that has a recessed shape 28 tohouse a golf tee Docket #11/199540—26 that attaches to the mat with agolf tee connector Docket #11/334894—30 that has spikes 42 on the bottomto keep the golf tee connector Docket #11/334894—30 from rotating withthe tee.

FIG. 11-21—Alternative Embodiments

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the mat 20 with the right handedrecessed shape 54 in the artificial turf 22.

FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of the mat 20 with the left handedrecessed shape 56 in the artificial turf 22.

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of the mat 20 that has a recessedshape 28 that allows a step golf tee 66 to penetrate the mat 20 througha insert 58 that is in the mat 20 this aids in allowing the tee to sitlevel with the top of the mat out of harms way.

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the step golf tee 66 that has a lowerbase 70 that attaches with the vertical side 68 that attaches to the topbase 74 this holds the cylinder stem 48 upright to hold a golf ball on.On the bottom of the top base you will see an outer angle 72 this givesthe step golf tee 66 enough strength to snap it back into place when thetop of the step golf tee 66 is struck by a golf club. When the golf clubstrikes the step golf tee 66 it will flex in two spots that are underthe base these are the two indentions 52 this allows the base to flex inthe correct spots and keeps the top base 74 of the tee from pushing thegolf club in an upward direction when the golf club continues throughthe swing plane and passing over the step golf tee 66.

FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of the step golf tee 66 also showing thetop of the cylinder stem 48.

FIG. 16 illustrates a bottom view of the step golf tee 66 also showingthe two indentions 52.

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of the step golf tee 66 showingthe top base 74 that holds the cylinder stem 48 on top to house a golfball. On the underside having two indentions 52 that allow the tee toflex in the correct spots and with a outer angle 72 that also helps pushthe top base 74 back to a ready position when struck by a golf club. Thevertical side 68 connects the top base 74 and the lower base 70 thisallows the step golf tee 66 to pull through a mat that has an insert init and be held in place to work efficiently.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the insert 58 that is in the mat.

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of the insert 58 that has arectangular slot 62 that will allow the step golf tee to pass throughand penetrate the golf mat. The inner angle 64 matches up with the outerangle on the golf tee to allow the tee to lay flat when in the insert58.

FIG. 20 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the mat 20 that has aninsert 58 in it to hold the step golf tee 66 the top of this tee willlay in the recessed shape 28 that is in the artificial turf 22 and thelower base 70 of the step golf tee 66 will lay in the mat indention 76that is on the bottom of the mat.

FIG. 21 illustrates a top view of the mat 20 with the step golf tee 66that is inserted in the insert 58 and lays in the recessed shape 28.

All of these possibilities can combine in different aspects. There is noselect combination of these options that are better than one another.They just show the many different ways of recessing a golf tee andconnecting it to the mat to help in describing obviousness of certainparts of this invention. All that is shown however, are not limited tothese exact possibilities. The advantages listed above become evidentespecially when discussing obviousness of my invention. Although thedescription above contains many specifications, these should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providingillustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of this invention.

For example, the mat can be made in various shapes such, as but notlimited to square, oval, triangular, hexagon, etc. Also the recessedshape can have many designs that will help in lowering the golf tee intothe base of the mat, with some obvious designs shown above. Furthermorethe insert shape can be altered to improve the efficiency of the insertallowing for design freedom without altering the function ability.

Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appendedclaims.

1. A mat with a recessed shape in the top surface of the mat to house agolf tee docket #11/199540 and allow it to connect to the mat by a golftee connector docket #11/334894.
 2. a golf tee as claimed in claim 1,said golf tee comprises a cylinder that is mounted on a base which has aslot that is fitted, which allows a golf tee connector that is fitted topenetrate the base.
 3. a golf tee connector as claimed in claim 1, saidgolf tee connector comprises a top plate with a fitted shape that canattach and interlock to a base with a fitted shape, the top plate withthe fitted shape will allow a golf tee docket #11/199540 to connect toit with a second fitted shape that holds the golf tee, said top platewill attach to a mat when said base with said fitted shape is connectedand interlocked to said top plate through a hole in the mat.
 4. Avariation of the said mat with a recessed shape in the top surface tohouse a step golf tee that will pass through the mat and be held inplace by a insert which could be built into the mat, on the bottom sideof the mat it will have an indention to house the bottom base of thestep golf tee.
 5. a step golf tee as claimed in claim 4, said step golftee has a vertical union that connects a lower base to a top base thathas a cylinder stem on top base, on the underside of the top base aretwo indentions also a outer angle where the top base meets the verticalsection.
 6. an insert as claimed in claim 4, said insert has arectangular slot that has a angle cutout in the rectangular slot whichruns the longest length also having an exterior that allows the insertto hold tight in the mat while holding the step golf tee that passesthrough the rectangular hole.